On March 13, 2011, Joey Hishon achieved a lifelong dream by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche. In May of that same year, Hishon was severely injured by a vicious cheap shot, and over the course of nearly two years he wondered at times if his dream of playing pro hockey was over.

Tuesday night, in Cleveland, Hishon started dreaming again.

The first-round draft choice of the Avs in 2010, Hishon played his first game of any kind since suffering a concussion in a Memorial Cup game nearly two years ago. Hishon played for the Avs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, against the Toronto Marlies at Quicken Loans Arena.

“It’s almost impossible to explain what I’m feeling, and what I’ve been going through since I was told I’d be in the lineup,” Hishon said Tuesday morning. “There’s a lot of excitement, mixed with a lot of nervousness. But I’m just so excited to get going and can’t wait to get my pro career started.”

Hishon did not record a point, but got three shots on goal in Lake Erie’s 4-2 loss to the Marlies.

Avs forward Matt Duchene was happy to hear the news.

“One thing about Joey: He loves hockey, and I think he’s going to be a star in this league one day, and hopefully this is the start of it for him. I’m so happy for him, wish him all the best and hopefully I’ll see him up here soon.”

Drafted 17th overall by Colorado, Hishon was finishing up a great junior career with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League when he was felled by a cheap-shot elbow to the face by Brayden McNabb of the Kootenay Ice. Hishon was bothered by severe concussion symptoms for the next year and a half before gradually finding relief.

Hishon first underwent treatment at the Cleveland Clinic. It wasn’t until he began seeing Dr. Ted Carrick at his Life University lab in Atlanta that he started to feel better.

Carrick, a former chiropractor who has pioneered treatments of brain injuries using a “whole body gyroscope,” was credited with developing treatments that helped heal the concussion of NHL star Sidney Crosby.

“I saw Dr. Carrick this summer, and since then things have completely turned around,” Hishon said. “It’s been so, so much better. I’ve got to give so much credit to him and his staff. But there are also just so many other people who have helped me along the way, I can’t even begin to mention. But Dr. Carrick has a lot of different techniques for different eye movements and putting you in the gyroscope — that thing that spins you around like a roller-coaster. It activates parts of your brain while shutting off other parts. It really gives you a kick-start. It was amazing for me.”

Hishon said there were plenty of dark times in the past two years. It wasn’t made any easier knowing his misery was caused by a blatant cheap shot by a 6-foot-5 player to a 5-10 one at center ice. McNabb saw some time with the Buffalo Sabres last season before being sent back to the minors, where he has played all season for the Rochester Americans of the AHL. Lake Erie will play at Rochester on April 5.

Hishon said he has let go of the bitterness he felt toward McNabb, though he will never forget what happened.

“It’s been tough. Obviously, all you’ve got to do is watch the video of the play and it’s pretty evident that it wasn’t an accident,” said Hishon, a 21-year-old center. “At the same time, things happen in hockey and you have to move forward. You can’t let those things affect you or they’ll eat you up. I’ve put that in the past and I don’t hold any grudge against him whatsoever now. Even if I did — I’m 5-10, he’s 6-5. What am I going to do about it?”

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